Hi everyone,


I’ve noticed increasing conversations around skill gaps in the oil, gas, and energy sectors — especially in critical areas like instrumentation, process safety, and rotating machinery.


From your experience, what are the key technical or compliance areas where teams are struggling to keep up?


I work with Haward Technology Middle East, and while we specialize in professional training, I’m really here to exchange ideas and hear what matters most to you — especially as things shift more digital and remote.


What topics or course formats do you wish more training providers offered?


Looking forward to learning from everyone.

 

MARK 6e, GE software SCADA/HMI.

 

Great question — the skill gaps in oil, gas, and energy are definitely becoming more visible, especially with the rapid pace of digital transformation.

From what I’ve observed, many teams are struggling in areas like:

• Legacy system upgrades where outdated infrastructure makes it hard to adopt newer technologies.
• Compliance with updated safety regulations — particularly in confined spaces or hazardous environments.
• Integration of digital tools such as reality capture, BIM, and digital twins.

One technology that’s making a big impact in bridging these gaps is 3D laser scanning. In the oil and gas sector, it plays a critical role by:

• Capturing precise as-is conditions of facilities and equipment without shutdowns.
• Enhancing safety by reducing the need for manual inspections in high-risk areas.
• Accelerating retrofit and maintenance planning through accurate point cloud data converted into intelligent 3D models.

This not only supports technical teams but also helps engineering, maintenance, and compliance units stay ahead — with fewer surprises during turnarounds and upgrades.

In terms of training, I think there’s growing demand for:

• Practical, tech-integrated modules (e.g., hands-on with 3D scanning, drone mapping, or AR/VR-based hazard identification).
• Short, modular microlearning formats that are easier to integrate into field schedules.
• Cross-disciplinary training, especially for engineers needing to understand both mechanical systems and digital workflows.

Looking forward to hearing how others are addressing these shifts — and what skill-building approaches have worked in your organizations.

 

Many plants still rely on ageing systems. Yet staff aren’t trained on modern digital instrumentation (HART, Fieldbus, IIoT protocols). Courses on smart sensors, loop tuning in complex control systems, and remote diagnostics.